why can't the airlines do what movie theaters and performance venues do?

why can't they have some seating set aside for 'seatmates of size' - like, have seats that can be modified into "doublewide" seats, and have one or two rows made available in case people request it? i mean, what about people who are confined to motorized wheelchairs? what about people who "take up room" because of an apparatus connected to a disability?

i understand in a situation where someone tries to get a ticket last minute and there's only one or two seats left on a flight. you can only do so much in situations like that. but if someone gets their ticket well in advance, i think the airline should be more accommodating and less callous.

Anxiety said:

Thank you.

You may be pleasantly surprised to know that Air Canada has recently adopted just such a policy. You may be less surprised to know that certain folk threw a hissy fit over even this.

I suspect that some people are just so miserable, they can't stand courtesies that make other people less miserable.
[Edited 4/16/09 19:40pm]

Anxiety said:

Where's the accomodation for people who've paid full price for their own seat and are forced to share half of it with a complete stranger?

meow85 said:

They no longer have to share, since the larger person was given a seat they can fit into. That's the point. Everyone is accomdated.

CarrieMpls said:

But if I want an extra seat for the sake of comfort, I'd have to pay for it.

No one is comfortable in airline seating, so why should one group of people be given special accommodation?

Lammastide said:

What about courtesy toward customers forced to share a seat with half the ass of some big person sitting next to them?

If anyone else wants extra space they have to pay for it. Why should one group of people be excepted from that?

meow85 said:

They no longer have to share, since the larger person was given a seat they can fit into. That's the point. Everyone is accomdated.

meow85 said:

Because this isn't "special" accomodation, it's allowing them a seat they can physically fit into. If you are smaller than the size of the standard seat you are already getting that. And as I said before, it benefits everyone.

Sorry, I gotta agree with the airlines on this one.

CarrieMpls said:

How would you propose this seating was arranged?

CarrieMpls said:

How is allowing people extra seats without having to pay for them not special accommodation? Even those of us who are smaller than the bodies airline seats are designed for aren't comfortable in the allotted space.

meow85 said:

Because it's not about comfort, it's about being able to physically fit into the seat. And even if it were about comfort, then it's allowing YOU not to be squished by someone stuffed into the seat next to you who can't fit there.

If you can't see why everyone getting a seat they can physically fit into for the same price is fair, then I'm not sure I can explain it to you.

Anxiety said:

Where's the accomodation for people who've paid full price for their own seat and are forced to share half of it with a complete stranger?

CarrieMpls said:

How is allowing people extra seats without having to pay for them not special accommodation? Even those of us who are smaller than the bodies airline seats are designed for aren't comfortable in the allotted space.

Sorry, I gotta agree with the airlines on this one.

Sorry, I gotta agree with the airlines on this one.

ZombieKitten said:

i guess you could show up in person wearing a fat suit and then once you board the plane you could take it off in the lavatory, then walk out and yell "i'm THIN! it's a MIRACLE!" and have a whole row to your skinny little self. maybe even get on oprah.